The Beerhive

Dominion Post reporters Michael Forbes and Shane Cowlishaw are not exactly expert home brewers - but they're willing to give it a go. Join the pair as they explore the craft beer capital one bottle at a time.

This is an appointed representative of the older generation. You know, the ones making the rules you're expected to live by. We need to talk about alcohol. But no lecture this time, just some honesty and some advice about your drinking.

First of all, what would be useful to you would be role models. You know, older people that you might look up to who consume alcohol responsibly, behave well when under the influence, that kind of thing. They exist, but they're hard to spot.

There are plenty of high profile problem drinkers for you not to copy. You know, sports people, politicians, captains of industry who picked up a lot of the bad habits of generations before us.

Summer is here and so begins The Beerhive's series of guest blogs. With the current uproar about breweries expanding and subsequently being shunned by the beer community it felt fitting to start with this piece by Stu McKinlay of Yeastie Boys fame.

In the later part of this year I was lucky enough to co-present a special beer dinner at Bin 44 on Wellington's Queens Wharf.

It was special for me because it was the first time presenting with my brewing hero, and long-time friend, Richard Emerson.

Richard Emerson - the founder of New Zealand's trailblazing Emerson's Brewery - is an infectiously enthusiastic presenter, a huge fan of beer and food matching, and the night was a great success.

The food was excellent, the beer matches were really well thought through, all of the beers were in great form, and the attendees were a perfect blend of craft beer newcomers and old school enthusiasts.